Dr. Shuddhananda Bharati Veera Thevan The history of Veeraththevan gives greatness to the history of Tamil Nadu itself Veeraththevan ASSA Editions
Introduction Where Periya Marudhu was, Veeraththevan was there. If Periya Marudhu said Hoom, Veereththevan would respond Yes and get into action. For the revolution of the Maravas that arose in Tamil Nadu, Veeraththevan was like the right hand. The history of Veeraththevan gives greatness to the history of Tamil Nadu itself. In my younger days, I used to go to Sivagangai Palace quite often. There I read my lessons with my school friend, Velu Durai, in the night. At that time, there was a noble warrior in the Palace. His name was Delhi Paachchaa Thevar. He was of youthful build. Fair in complexion, steep shoulders, strong hand muscles born out of dumbbell exercises, twisted stiff moustache, tiger look, sweet talk, Maravas dynasty quality, Tamil civilization all these aptly describe Dehli Paachchaa Thevar. He narrated in an interesting manner the story of the revolutionary leaders who fought for the freedom of Tamil Nadu. He narrated the stories of Periya Marudhu and Chinna Marudhu with emotion. More than anything else, he narrated the story of Veeraththevan. On hearing that story again and again, my mind became enthusiastic. An elderly woman named Aavaarankaattu Paatti of the Maravas dynasty who had seen Veeraththevan told me several rare stories. An opportunity came for showing Veeraththevan to the world. Our people s hearts that have read and enjoyed Alexander Dumas novels, Victor Hugo novels and Sir Walter Scott novels will get heroic thrills if they hear of Veeraththevan s - 7 -
life. People who have read Bankim Chandra s book 1 Anandamath and Durga Rani will certainly enjoy Veeraththevan s story. Though thousands of Tamil hero gems shone in Tamil history, the world knows about only a few. Some heroes of the Cheras, Chozhas (Cholas) and Pandiyas, and some heroes of Puranaanooru, shone countrywide and found their mention in books. There are many valorous lions that shone, hidden behind the curtain of time. Among them, Veeraththevan is an incomparable one. Tamil people should know about him; the world should learn about him. The West praises sky-high bandits with big hearts like Robin Hood 2 and Tim Drake 3. They created stories with Robin Hood as the hero. The novelist Sir Walter Scott had woven a serial story called Ivanhoe based on Robin Hood. Let us also weave a serial story based on the life of Veeraththevan and present it to the world. Yogi Shuddhananda Bharati 1 Bankim Chandra s respected book Anandamath (pronounced Anondomôh in Bengali), published in 1882. 2 Robin Hood is a heroic outlaw in English folklore who, according to legend, was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. Hero in the book Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott. 3 Batman. - 8 -
Preface This novel, Veeraththevan, one of the several novels of Swami Shudhdhananda Bharati, delineates the events related to the freedom struggle of brave Tamils in the Pandiya kingdom in the form of a story. The avid readers and fans of Dr. Shudhdhananda Bharati, who swam in the waters of his brilliant poetic flow in his books like The Essence of Religion, Kummy Folk Dance:The History of our Country India, The Arrival of Buddha and many others, are treated to Swami s gripping narration of a story in this novel entitled Veeraththevan, the story of the heroes of the Marava dynasty who fearlessly opposed the East India Company s domination and their capture of the country of India, and of the sacrifices, turmoil and tribulations the Maravas were subjected to in their quest for freedom and in their relentless guarding of the rights of the country. With apt and striking chapter headings, the story is woven in a flowing style, eulogising valour, heroism and the tactical war methodologies of the Pandiya Kingdom in the eighteenth century. Humour is interspersed into the narration in a piquant manner. The action of the terrible war in which the King Vadugunadhar Durai and the Marudhu brothers belonging to the Marava dynasty were engaged is brought out by Shudhdhananda Bharati in an elegant manner, given atmosphere by a number of action sounds too! The scenes, the Palace, the festivities, local fervour and charm are all conjured up before our eyes by Swami in this historical novel. - 9 -
Veeraththevan, the hero of this novel is very well portrayed in several dimensions. In the opening chapter itself, introducing him in a wrestling bout is very interestingly described. The monstrous foreign wrestler s haughtiness, his burly figure, Veeraththevan s swift and elegant moves to counter and to fell the wrestler, huge in size, are all captured by Dr. Sudhdhananda Bharati in a unique style. The heroics of Veeraththevan, the several roles he plays, his manoeuvres, tactics and strategies which played a big part in keeping the East India Company Army baffled and stunned are all narrated in a gripping manner are highlights of this novel. Juxtaposed with the easy flow of the story are the poems interspersed at appropriate situations. Dr. Shudhdhananda Bharati s rich knowledge of the Tamil culture, of the Tamil poetries, of the customs and traditions of the Royal family, of the festivities and of the intense devotion to Lord Muruga can be vividly seen throughout. Through this poignant story, in a devoted and dedicated fashion, Swami Shudhdhananda Bharati will definitely touch the hearts of all Indians filled with love for their country and make them shed at least a tear or two when they read about the sufferings the people of the country underwent in their struggle against foreign domination. Feelings of patriotism will glow in every Indian reader who gets a chance to read this novel. Every reader who reads it will get an insight into the selfless sacrifice of the patriotic and courageous heroes of Tamil Nadu. It is because of the dedicated yeoman service rendered by Christian Piaget of the Editions ASSA, Switzerland (Aum - 10 -
Shuddha Shakti Aum) towards the noble task of spreading the message of the great Saint Shudhdhananda Bharati, his great works in Tamil are being made available in English language so that Swami s works and messages are spread throughout the world. This aspect is once again displayed by ASSA by their culling of this rare book, Veeraththevan, from the archives of Kavi Yogi s works. To perform the job of translating a historical novel like this, wherein the scenes of patriotic emotions of the heroes of Bharat are so assiduously penned by the revered Kavi Yogi, is this translator s privilege! Srinivasa Rao Nagaraja Kumar - 11 -
Swami Shuddhananda Bharati There is but one God for the whole world All bodies are but temples of God
Editor s Notes Always with great respect and surprised to read and recognize the immense knowledge of Dr. Shuddhananda Bharati on all matters alone, mostly about the history of the world, India and Tamil Nadu more precisely. Easily, the whole of his work can be considered as a summary of 5,000 years of history, world history, its evolution, and its vision of Maharishi, identical to the first Rishis who wrote the Vedas. Kavi Yogi Maharishi Dr. Shuddhananda Bharati is one of the great men passing on earth, bringing their peace and light for the harmonious development of mankind. About the meaning of Veeraththevan, from the translator: Though Viradevan or Veradevan, if transliterated, will also appear as வ ரத தவன, the word Devan in Tamil means divine, whereas Thevar or Thevan refers to the Thevars of the Marava dynasty belonging to Tamil Nadu. Therefore, the word Thevan is more appropriate and is generally used in most forms of writings. I used th in between so that people who are not familiar with Tamil will not read it as வ ர தவன (leaving out the த ) if I write Veera Thevan. Dr. Shudhdhananda Bharati has written வ ரத தவன as one word. So I have written it as Veeraththevan, one word. It would not be wrong to write it as Veera Thevan too, if so desired. A warm thank you to M. Kumar Srinivasa Nagaraja Rao for this beautiful translation and for the preface, to Phyl Stewart for her help on the preparation of this book and to - 13 -
my friend A V Ilango for his presence at my side and his valuable support. It is a great joy to have happiness and the chance to know A V Ilango in Chennai, renowned painter and sculptor. I met him some years ago in Chennai, we both keep a wonderful memory of a beautiful meditation. Ties of friendships have been created and A V Ilango participates in various paintings of Shakti to achieve a major work of Shuddhananda Bharati, his Magnum Opus, Bharata Shakti and for this work the paintings of Veeraththevan. He is the founder of Ilango s Artspace Pvt. Ltd. It is a real pleasure for me to present Veeraththevan to you. Thank you to Dr. Shuddhananda Bharati for having transmitted Veeraththevan to us. With the blessing of Aum Shuddha Shakti Aum. Christian Piaget - 14 -
The night is through, The chain of slavery It is already broken - I am full of courage! Peace in the morning, A golden sun rises Like a lion superhuman To accomplish my dream. A hopeful smile, Docile as a child Who plays in the infinite With a fiery star. My journey is over; I enjoy time; The universe is my nest; Of eternal spring. Courage! - 15 -
Peace Anthem Peace for all, peace for all For all the countries peace Joy for all, joy for all For all the nations joy A rosy morning peace A smiling summer joy (Peace for all) All for each and each for all This is the golden rule Life and Light and Love for all For all that live our love (Peace for all) Work and food and clothes for all Equal status for all Health and home and school for all A happy world for all (Peace for all) No idle rich, no more beggars All are equal workers No more tears, no more fears The heart is full of cheers (Peace for all) - 16 -
No atom scare, no fat mammon No room for war demon Like leaves in trees, like rays in the sun We are one communion, One Divine communion (Peace for all) The good in you is good for all Your life is life for all The God in you is God for all Your love is love for all (Peace for all) For he or she or it or rest This collective life is best This Universal Life is best North or South, or East or West (Peace for all) Peace for plants and birds and beasts For hills and streams and woods Peace in Home - land and air and sea Dynamic peace we see Peace for all, peace for all Immortal Peace for All - 17 -
Song of Unity Unite. Unite, Unite, Oh Souls Unite and play your roles Unite in mind, unite in heart Unite in whole, unite in part Like words and tunes and sense in song Let East and West unite and live long Trees are many; the grove is one Branches are many; tree is one Shores are many; sea is one Limbs are many; body is one Bodies are many; self is one Stars are many; sky is one Flowers are many; honey is one Pages are many; book is one Thoughts are many; thinker is one Tastes are many; taster is one Actors are many; the drama is one Nations are many; the world is one Religions are many; Truth is one The wise are many; Wisdom is one Beings are many; breath is one Classes are many; college is one Find out this One behind the many Then life shall enjoy peaceful harmony - 18 -
Presentation of Dr. Shuddhananda Bharati 11 th May 1897 7 th March 1990 The wise one to the cosmic age Although more than 90 years old, in his school in the south of India, Kavi Yogi Maharishi (great divine visionary, wise poet), Dr. Shuddhananda Bharati worked like a young man of twenty. When he was asked his age, he answered: My age is Courage! The Yogi wrote several hundred works in English, French, Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Sanskrit; five thousand songs, and fifteen hundred poems in French. The magnum opus of the man conscious of the presence of God in him, Bharata Shakti, (in 50,000 verses) described his ideal: only One Humanity living in communion with only One God in a transformed world! Bharata Shakti is a monumental and unique work. The Yogi depicts the essence of all the religions, of all the prophets and saints, all the approaches of yoga and all the cultures on an allegorical fabric. It is a book for any age which all spiritual researchers and all nations should read and meditate on. His commitment is summarized in his book celebrating his life, Pilgrim Soul. The three poems mentioned in the opening express perfectly his ideal. His mantra, Aum Shuddha Shakti Aum, nourishes our souls and guides our steps toward the inner joy Ananda. It means: The light of Grace and power of the pure supreme Almighty bless us of peace, happiness and prosperity! Let the beauty and greatness of soul of Dr.Bharati Shuddhananda bloom and scent the entire Earth of its divine message and his spiritual and unifying benefactor! Editions ASSA
Veeraththevan, painting from A V Ilango
Veeraththevan, painting from A V Ilango
Veeraththevan 1. Well done, Hero! On the huge grounds of the Palace, a competition of valour is taking place. The ground is decorated with suspended festoons made out of mango leaves and tender coconut shoots, and colourful flags. This indicates which section is for which game. Valiant heroes are coming in long lines like lion herds and taking their seats in the seats allotted to them. Apart from the heroes from Maravas, heroes from other countries also have come for the competition. To watch the valorous games, people in large numbers are seated in the galleries. The womenfolk are watching the fun from the storied portions of the Palace. Whenever a hero comes, the blowing horns sound bhoom, bhoom. The drums beat dum, dunuk, dunuk ; when they play, the jambai keeps time, making a roaring noise in the band. Some heroes are engaged in sword fighting. Some go around brandishing and flashing the coiling sword repeatedly. Some show their quarter staff swings. Some fight with battle axes and spears. Some are patting their shoulders as they wrestle. Watching these, the entire King stood twisting his moustache. At this time, one strong wrestler from the North called Malla Rasa appeared. Looking at the King, he spoke of his greatness and boasted that no one could wrestle with him and win. Malla Rasa was strong, fat, with hardened thick skin grown gigantic - 23 -
in size with haughtiness. Eggs and meat and butter and milk and curd and badam had grown his flesh like that. His eyes were big as the eyes of a buffalo. His look was a tiger s look. His moustache was long like a sword on both sides. His extended teeth pierced his lips. Firstly, his eyes and moustache were intimidating people. His hands were undesirably brisk, wanting to hit someone. The part below his hip was bulging across like the Muniyaandi of Iyanar Temple, competing with a pumpkin. Seeing his monstrous figure, all wrestlers became afraid. No one tapped his shoulders and entered the arena to wrestle with him. The King was disappointed. With fire emitting from his eyes, twisting his moustache, the King looked at the gathering and asked Is there no Marava hero to challenge this wrestler? The playground for valour stood bewildered. With fiery eyes, the King again looked around and said, If there is not a single person to give a fight to this wrestler, why should we perform Marava s occupation? Why should we stand before the world as heroes? One young man stood up, tucking up his cloth. Tapping his shoulder, which sent vibrations in all directions, and coming before the King, bowing he said, I will make this wrestler a nothing. Please give your command. The King looked at him. He doubted how this leanly built young man sporting a thin moustache would compete against the monstrous figure. Periya Marudhu whispered something into his ear. The King commanded. - 24 -
O Wrestler. There are any number of hefty wrestlers in our kingdom to fight against you. Even then, first you must answer this young man said the King. The big wrestler looked, laughed out loudly and called with contempt: O, little chick. Come on. The young man tapped his shoulders with a tup, tup sound. Then he tapped his thighs, caught hold of his hand and shook it violently. Next, he caught hold of his armpit and pressed it hard, leapt between his legs and gave a kick to the thigh. The fat wrestler swung his leg to crush him in one shot. In a flash, the young man escaped and came behind the monstrous wrestler and gave him a kick to the waist. The wrestler fell on his back. Saying Not fallen on the face, he got up and jumped on the young man, trying to bite him like a tender cucumber piece. The young man, running in quick circles, going here and there, wriggled out and jumped around all the four corners of the ring. The hefty wrestler became tired. With sweat dripping profusely, breathing heavily, with moustache trembling and anger simmering, pushing forward his entire weight, he jumped to crush the young hero. Because of the kick he got on his hip, he could not jump freely. The young man, leaping and gripping him, pressing hard against his thigh, stamping on his chest, pushed him down suddenly and climbed on to him and sat on him, pulling at both ends of the proudly twisted moustache, like pulling the tail of a squirrel. The assembled gathering went into raptures. Well done, hero, said the King. Trumpets sounded the achievement of victory. Thundering sounds of drums hit the sky. Malla Rasa slowly got up; bending his back slowly and holding - 25 -
his hip, he staggered away. Heaving a heavy breath, he said I will never come again to the boundary of Marava country. The King presented a sword to the valorous young man. Saying Well done, Hero, he presented the award. The King asked O young man who saved the dignity of Maravas, what is your name? Young man: King: Youth: King: Periya Marudhu: King: O King! My name is Veeraththevan. You only are the great hero. Who is your father? Who is your mother? I have not seen my parents. Marudhu Servai who is standing here is my foster Father. O Periya Marudhu! All these days, why you didn t show this youth to us? Instead of me showing him, let his valour itself show him. I stayed back. I am very glad. What are this sword hero s birth and greatness? Periya Marudhu: O King! He is the son of a great hero called Sasi Varna Thevan (One of the Kings of Marava dynasty). Valli Nachchiyar s son. Sasi Varna Thevan lost his life in the Ramanathapuram battle. His mother was a devoted wife. She took her life after the loss of her husband. Like Pandiyamadevi, Nedunchezhiyan s Queen, Valli - 26 -
Nachchiyar 4 also became a chaste wife Goddess. The baby became an orphan. I and my brother brought him up. We got the job of carrying the betel box for the King. Got the responsibility of looking after the hunting dogs. If a job is available with the King for this young boy also, it would be fine. King: Fine, Marudhu! You have done a great job. Give the hunting dogs to him. May all of you be of support to me for my valorous actions and hunting actions. O King! The foreign devil is more key than the dog hunt. For that, we will be a great support said the youth, bowing to the King and raising his sword. Wishing the youth well, the King garlanded him with a garland made of fragrant wood, presented him with a coloured dhoti, gave a bag of money and honoured the youth. From that day onwards, Veeraththevan started his life as a great hero. The King Vadugunadha Durai also gave him training. 4 Valli - Valli Nachchiyar, the wife of the brave warrior Sasivarnam who gave his life in the Ramanathapuram battle. When her husband died, Valli Nachchiyar also ended her life. She is the mother of Veera Thevan, the hero of this novel. - 27 -
2. The milk of valour that Bharat fed In the country during that period, war clouds hovered over everywhere. Darkness encircled Indian lives; Turkish rule set in the blood coloured red sky. The domination of Nawabs slid down. The strength of our people also was blunted. The English flag rose and irritation by Englishmen increased. Robberies abounded. The decayed sena of the Nawab joining with the East Indian Company Whites itself began collecting stringent taxes. The Whites sent the Nawab s army in the front uttering Go-go-do, collect funds, bring money. They also followed them. If the fight intensified, those who were falling prey to the bullets were our local people. Those who installed their flags and made merriment were the Whites; those who toiled were our people; amassing wealth were the Whites. After dividing and incensing to make them quarrel and carrying tales, those who made our people fight with our own people were the Whites. The heads that were broken were the heads of our people. Entering in between, working cunningly on both sides and leaping like tigers were the Whites; our people shedding blood stood like hoodwinked men. The Whites threatened our people with our own people. From 1748, the plundering by Whites increased in Tamil Nadu. The pillage by Chanda Saheb and Umdat Umar made our people lean and weak. Immediately the raiding of Colonel Smith and of Jackson happened at gunpoint scenting money, the Europeans crowded in. In front of a house, the White would say Give ten thousand. If they - 28 -
said Pity the poor, he will say Set the house on fire Come on, plunder... To carry out his command exactly word by word, a hundred Indian slaves would be there behind him. Out of this hundred, some four could have joined and thrashed the White man. No one dared to ask Hey! You! Why are you plundering our people? Who are you to ask for our belongings? Get out! Therefore, the foreigners grew bolder. Our people, as cowardly slaves, burying their dignity in their stomach, singing praise of the bread pieces that dropped from the tables of the Englishmen, became bonded labourers. Is there no one to guard dignity? Did no one come forward to chest beat saying the country where we live is our right? Wasn t there any hero to rise and say O you White foreigner! Get out! Mother India cried. Isn t there a strong person to show a sword to the Whites who are tying the people? All of North India became slaves. There Clive and Warren and Cornwallis and Wellesley and Bentinck and cunning scraping again and again put the country under the governance of the Whites, applied red and made the Union Jack flag firmly take root. Freedom rays rose in the South; India s freedom battle rose in the land of the Maravas. It rose as a movement of refusal to pay tax. After the siege of Arcot, the Englishmen implemented self-rule in South India, keeping a dummy Nawab in front. The Nawab could not collect taxes. Tamil Nadu woke up. The Nawab became a slave of the East India Company Whites. The Whites, using their armed forces and taking into their fold the people of slave kings like Thondaiman, came harassing to collect taxes. Jack and - 29 -
Smith, along with the Jamalkhans, entered into the Maravas land. Give money they said. Go this moment said the Maravas. Vadugunadha Durai was the first Marava to hold the flag to oppose the Englishmen in such a manner. He was one who lived for valour only. The personification of courage, he was one who was brave enough to say You foreigner, get out!, even if Yama comes. He was very well versed in martial arts, an expert in all sports like wrestling, quarter staff swinging, sword fight, rifle shooting and climbing forts. He had sharpened his sword with only the welfare of the country in mind. Vadugunadha Durai gave war training to his Marava army, often conducting mock war in his training arena. During his time, the Bharat day of significance was established; he tied string, reciting mantras to be free from affliction, in the Temple of Goddess Draupadi and organized readings of Bharat every day. Reading Bharat does not mean reading from a book. Bharatham Pillai would go on telling the story of Bharatham in a stream style. There will be a raag exclusively meant for him. It was neither a Melakartha raag nor a Janaya raag. His was a furious raag, with nothing like taal or musical scale. What taal and musical scale were there for the Kutralam Falls, those were there for the Bharati poet! This poet was a hereditary musical exponent. In my younger days, I had heard his son s voice. Here I give some lines: The war of Bharat has arrived, Sirs. With the seven earths shivering, with eight directions trembling, eighty-four crore living beings fluttering, the Pandava Army started - 30 -
off. Duryodhana s came in the opposite direction. Conches sounded boom, boom ; drums beat dum, damaar. Leather drums were tapped daka, daka, daka, dak. Black birds beat pateer, pateer, the sound echoing in eight directions. See Suyodhanan rising, vowing Hey! Bheem, Arjuna, come before me! Take up the bow! Come on, wage war! I will give you a thrashing. Crushing the Pandava Army, stamping feet, hitting and squeezing, mixing in blood, I will scatter the devils. Arjuna stood at the battle line and strung his bow, which sounded gada, gada, gada, gada, daan, daan, daan, daan. With twisted moustache, tight muscles, vibrant steps and a roar like thunder, Bheema stood majestically swinging his mace sky high to kill Duryodhana and perform rites to take revenge. Order online, order this book Editions ASSA Grand'Rue 180 1454 L'Auberson Switzerland Phone : +41 (0) 24 454 47 07 Fax : +41 (0) 24 454 47 77 Email : info@editions-assa.ch Web : www.editions-assa.ch